Dennis aims for Grand Tour success at Giro

Australian cyclist Rohan Dennis is hoping the Giro d'Italia can lay a strong foundation for 2018

Rohan Dennis has grand plans, meaning he is more interested in how he performs at the end than the start of the Giro d'Italia.

The Australian cycling star's time trial prowess means he is one of the favourites for the 9.7km opening stage of the Giro on Friday in Jerusalem.

The Giro will spend three days in Israel - the first time any of cycling's three Grand Tours have started outside Europe.

Dennis is in the midst of a long-term plan to transform himself into a rider who can be an overall challenger in those big three-week races - the Giro, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.

So while the BMC team leader will be one to watch on Friday, he is more interested in how he performs later in the Giro when the race hits the big Italian mountains.

The 27-year-old had to pull out of last year's Giro in the opening week after a race crash.

"I found out last year that anything can happen, even in the first couple of days, so I'm not too worried about the end result this year," he said.

"The first two weeks I can manage, but the third week is a real unknown for me.

"This Giro d'Italia is about seeing where I am at with the training I have been doing."

Dennis became the seventh Australian to win the Tour's famed yellow jersey when the won the opening time trial in 2015.

He also led the Vuelta at the start of last year's race, so if he can win the opening Giro time trial it would give him the rare distinction of having worn the leader's jersey in all three Grand Tours.

"I'm not putting too much pressure on myself," he said.

"There are not many Australians who have worn all three Grand Tour leader's jerseys so if I take the Maglia Rosa it will be special.

"But, if I don't get it on day one then hopefully there are more chances in the race."

There will be plenty of Australian interest in the Giro, with seven riders from this country.

Australian team Mitchelton-Scott will also feature Colombian Esteban Chaves and British rider Simon Yates, who are overall contenders.

Chaves finished second in the 2016 Giro, Mitchelton-Scott's best Grand Tour result, but his season last year was ruined by injury and the death of a close friend.

After winning the Herald Sun Tour at the end of the Australian season, Chaves has only raced twice in Europe.

But after a one-month training block in Colombia, he is confident about returning to his form of two years ago.

"This is what we have - it always can be better, it always can be worse," he said.

"Two years ago, we were in a worse position before the Giro. You never know what can happen in this sport."

AUSTRALIAN INTEREST IN THE GIRO

BMC - Rohan Dennis, seventh Grand Tour. A favourite for the opening time trial and a top-10 overall hope

Mitchelton-Scott - Jack Haig, climbing domestique, third Grand Tour and Giro debut. The Australian team also features overall contenders Esteban Chaves from Colombia and British rider Simon Yates